MDEVILLIAN Registered by Australia Post, Publication Number VBH 7636 Vol 3, No 2, May 1988
THE RUMOUR IS
Board. It is little wonder that she took the
ALIVE ...
entire organisation of this year's
- ANNE MUIRHEAD Dancing with the boys at Turana Youth Training Centre; tallying the scores via mental arithmetic at countless sports
meetings wearing the green of Mornane;
settin up a Physics Prac long before the
arrival ot the Mandeville mases, the lone;
loyal guitarist at every Thursday Eucharist...these are just a few of the myriad of images that I carry with me of mv
teacher, friend and colleague - Sr Efizabeth Donnan, IBVM.
of past and present pupils, staff members and friends of Loreto, a special tribute of thanks to Sr Elizabeth, who has finished at
Toorak after eleven years of extraordinary service. Herself a past pupil of Mandeville, Sr Elizabeth rekindled her association with
Toorak in 1977 and since that time has been
a veritable dynamo in and out of the
classroom. Although Sr Elizabeth runs the most tangential meetings, had the most chaotic-looking work area in the staff room and even turned up late to Hawthorn for
TO BE A PILGRIM
Mass earlier in the year after having spent twenty minutes looking for her glasses, she is the ultintate "behind-the-scenes"
organiser. During her time at Mandeville, Sr
- DEIRDRE ROFE I.B.V.M. PR INCIPAL
Elizabeth must have organised and run well over a hundred camps for senior R.E. classes and recent past pupils, she virtually built the
John Bunyan's Christian classic Pilgrim's Progress inspired the writing of a wellknown hymn, "To be a Pilgrim". In preparation for the Mass at Yulara on 23rd
April, the school learnt the hymn which, with its resounding refrain, became one of the themes of our journey. What did it mean for us "to be a pilgrim"? It meant that we approached the 11 days away together with a special attitude. We were no
ordinary tourists, "doing the Centre". Rather we would travel - conscious of our
ignorance of this vast land and our
inexperience in the ways of the world of the Aborigines. We were also aware that we
washing machines of the Alice Travellers Village. We were moving fast but the land exercised a strong fascination over all of us. Our large group moved through vast stretches of land, leaving no impression; rather the impression was made on us. This awareness was strengthened by the
unique experience of being "one in mind
and heart'. It was this aspect which earned
Aboriginal community one of the most
the expedition the name of pilgrimage - we journeyed miles as a school community and
therefore, with a sense of unease, anxious to
as individuals.
be reconciled and hopeful that in the short
As we were well aware, the journey was not
time we had, we could strike a new
without risk. Many of us, before the event, spared more than a passing thought as to what might happen. It was our awareness of God's providence and the finely tuned organization which enabled us all to accept
"Not only did I make new friends within the
the risk involved. We felt confident that the
school, but I feel now I am able to call
ties that existed in the Loreto school
myself a true Australian with a much greater
knowledge of our country and its people."
community were strong enough to face the risk and also the consequences. It is a
(Year 11 student)
blessing that this trust was not misplaced.
"Two things which highlighted our trip were
Pilgrims of old had to contend with attacks from brigands, illness often unto death and
the meeting with the Aborinal children and "The Rock Concert". I tound the
a motley group of companions. The worst
Aboriginal people extremely friendly and they were eager to find out how we lived."
attacks we faced were from the flies; any
(Year 10 student)
"The trip we made to the Centre of our land, Australia, has taught me the true meaning of the saying 'The Aborigines don't
illness was speedily halted by the skilled medical team and somehow, miraculously, our "motley" became strangely harmonized into seventeen strongly affiliated groups,
own the land, the land owns the
composed of people of all ages and interests. To belong to Bus 17, to name just
Aborigines'. The Aborigines see no need to stake out their land or display 'Keep Out'
was an identity!
signs." (Year 7 student)
To be a pilgrim meant to be on the move. In
one, was not just an organizational tag. It Many stories have been shared, photos exchanged, and reunions organized. What
a very short space of time, we became quite
occurred in our school between 17 - 27
skilled at erecting a tent citv and within half
April is the tip of the iceberg. It was long in
an hour sitting down to a three course meal. In an equally short space of time, we could strike camp, with tents folded flat and bed
immeasurable faith in young people. In her Summary at the 1986 Loreto Education Conference, Sr Elizabeth inadvertantly
described herself: "For many young people, the school is becoming the most significant experience of Church. The witness of the various manifestations does much to reinforce the rumour that God is alive".
A delightful story from the recent pilgrimage encapsulates the powerful witness of Sr Elizabeth - a student in
describing where she had found God during the journey to the Centre, said she had seen God present in Sr Elizabeth. Thank you Lizzie, for the love you extend to your students, for your interest in those of us who have moved beyond the walls of Mandeville, for your comitment to the young and to the future - so evident in your compassion towards the young men at Turana. In response to all that you have given us, we offer you our prayers and
long-distance support as you experience the next stage of your own pilgrimage on tertianship in Kenya.
Thank you for keeping the rumour of God alive!
new P.E. Centre and has held key positions
the families who prayed at home. We shared
intentioned efforts, has left the Australian
wrote:
Sr Elizabeth's untiring and cheerful giving, without stopping to count the cost, must always be seen in the context of her
for land and identity. This solidarity in prayer was supplemented most tangibly by with the early Christian community that
can only quote what some of the students
Donnan.
the traditions of all pilgrims, we prayed - for a safe journey, for a deeper appreciation of the gift of this glorious country, for a spirit of understanding of the Aboriginal desire
majority, part of a system that despite well-
relationship between black and white. Who can judge whether this was achieved? We
even seemed to thrive on the process, earning the affectionate title - Brigadier
daily period of prayer and reflection. True to
were, as members of the white Australian
deprived groups in the world. We came,
Bicentennial Pilgrimage in her stride and
members of our school communities in its
It is with a deep sense of love and gratitude that I record, on behalf of literally thousands F
on al! schoc! Faicy bedic: ar ' tl- 0 Institutes's Central Education Advisory
the preparing: I suspect that it will be long
in the memory of each of us. At a more
rolls neatly piled. And so into the coach -for
significant level, I believe it has shaped our consciousness quite profoundly. Despite our
the next few hundred kilometres. We
differences, we know we can live and work
learned to cope with the misty coldness of an early morning on the Murray, with the
and play together. What remarkable
dusty starkness of Coober Pedy and so to
foresight the present Year 12 group showed when they chose as our theme for the year
appreciate all the more the green lawns and
"We are Family"!
Sr Elizabeth in Kenya
The Bicentennial Pilgrimage The Bicentennial Pilgrimage to Central Australia must have been the event of the
year for the Senior School! We felt that it would be appropriate if we devoted a considerable portion of this Mandevillian to articles and photos on this incredible achievement. We have selected a number of
different pieces of writing about the
Pilgrimage. There are articles or essays by students, excerpts from parents' letters, reflections by members of staff, volunteers and strangers. We hope that you will be able to share with us the extraordinary experience which was the Loreto Bicentennial Pilgrimage.